Transcripts For CSPAN2 Australian Parliament Question Time Highlights 20240713

Hello and welcome to question time rep we play the highlights, question time and australias parliament. While the fires the ravaged the east coast oster all over the summer have died down, the political fallout is just beginning. Question time in parliament began with a bipartisan day honoring those fire victims and also thinking t all volunteers o help to fight the fires. It didnt take long before the conversation quickly turned to quality. The member for deal more. My question is to the Prime Minister. Why does the Prime Minister claim of these acted on the advice of fire commissioners when he ignored for two years their advice to provide a permanent boost to australias aerial firefighting y capabilit . Mr. Speaker, i thank the member for question and can i threw her pass on again my sincere condolences and sympathies and support to all those members in her electorate. I have members of my family who live in your electorate and a what to thank you for the work youve done as all members have done over the course of his bushfire season. I would be grateful if you could do that if you have the opportunity. Mr. Speaker, the member has raised the matter of the recommendations that were made through fire chiefs regarding the aerial firefighting assets. What the government had done was respond to that with two separate trenches the funding which matched what they originally asked for, mr. Speaker and i dont want this matter in the course of the bushfire season but in addition to those allocations of 11 million, on top of that we announced a further 20 million, and that was over and above the 15 million that was being provided each and every year as part of the arrangement that we had, after speaker. Where please to do that. I also noted the ongoing funding being sought would be addressed in this years budget. In the house of representatives the Prime Minister was asked about the government prepared this and whether they are acted on the advice of fire chiefs in the lead up to the catastrophic season. My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Does that Prime Minister regret saying that volunteer firefighters dont meet economic compensation for lost income because they quote want to be out there . Thank you, mr. Speaker. Once again the leader of the opposition is misrepresenting what occurred for political purposes. For political purposes as he always does, mr. Speaker. There is no issue that the leader of the opposition will not seek to exploit the personal political gain. This is just another example, another example of his lack of character. Now, mr. Speaker, mr. Speaker members on both sides that was not what a outline when those remarks were made. Mr. Speaker, what was raised in the press conference i was at was in relation to, for the first time when the suggestion was made that there may be some mr. Speaker, at the may be raised by the journalists about whether, mr. Speaker, we woulder be considering, he keeps interjecting. Id be happy toeaea address question. [shouting] it was being raised with me whether the commonwealth would be providing opposition for Rural Fire Service volunteers. Now, mr. Speaker, that is not a matter that is normally dealt with by the federal government. [shouting] mr. Speaker, i sonoma it is done with by the federal government. It is a matter that is traditionally m done by the rurl Fire Services, mr. Speaker. I was reflecting, its made back to mese when i visited with rurl Fire Services members, mr. Speaker, and they had put it to me when they were out there, mr. Speaker, the wanted tout be out there protecting their community, mr. Speaker. About. What i was talking they know that they would prefer not to have fires. They know that there would prefer to be at home with their families and their communities. What i was saying is that when duty calls, mr. Speaker, they add to the call to duty because thats what our volunteers do. The leader of the opposition has willfully for months sought to misrepresent that comment to take political advantage of the bushfires, mr. Speaker, and it shows an appalling [shouting] to politicize any event. Now, mr. Speaker, this government acted on the basis of the advice we received and working closely with the New South Wales Rural Fire Services to provide for income lost payments, for Rural Fire Service members went out there for more than ten days, mr. Speaker, and we did so at the request of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service commissioner. When we received that request from the New South Wales government acted on that request, and i think one of 6 million has since been paid to those Fire Service Members on the basis of the answer for more than ten days. That same offer was made to other states. It has not been taken up by the time has concluded. Fears about coronavirus quickly quipped the world and us tell you with no exception. Thousands foundri himself strand in areas impacted by coronavirus. The government forced to organize evacuations flights to rescue australians. I think a much mr. President. My question iss to the minister for defense. Can a miniature update the cyrano their reporting the whole of government efforts to repatriate australians from coronavirus affected areas . The minister for defense, senator reynolds. Thank you very much, mr. Prey much to p senator anderson for e question but also for his ongoing support for defense and particular the state industry. Yesterday i was very proud to outline in this gym all the work we are doing on operation bushfire assist, which is the largest mobilization of the adf domestically in our nations history. Im also very proud the adf has been able to quickly mobilize and provide veryy significant support to government efforts on fighting and tackling the coronavirus. These efforts are being led by the departments of Foreign Affairs and trade, health and also Public Affairs but the fence fed to play a significant role. We are working across governments very well to ensure the best interest of the australians love got caught up the disease, particularly in wuhan. The adf currently has 236 personnel supporting the departure of australias strong word hand and are doing what they do best, they are providing a wide range of logistical support, and those things as i said yesterday, the many things that can be measured like statistics and by quantities and numbers, but they are also providing support that is not directly measurable. That is, providing Additional Support and helping hand and kindness to the australians and the families are returning to australia. Can the minister expand on how the fence is supporting home affairs, particularly on the island . Thank you very much him and thank you for the question. Defense has directly supported Australian Border force with the transfer of the first two groups of australians evacuees to Christmas Island. Adf people are existing the departure of australians from wuhan to Christmas Island. When hundred 68 personnel are providing direct harrison support at Christmas Island and 49 others which is currently being this bad and relocated due to an depending cyclone in the northwest region. There are 19 members who are coordinating this effort also from adf headquarters, and defense support includes the reestablishment and the operation of the facility at Christmas Island, including the provision of food and many other Life Essentials and comfort to those are currently at Christmas Island. The garrison support is also very wide. Everything from sorry, senator vitter. But as the bushfire crisis has continued to dominate including the impact on australian wildlife. Its estimated 1 billion animals died in the bushfires. The government has pledged 50 billion help with her rehabilitation of critically endangered animals. Thank you, mr. President. My question is to the minister representing the ministry for environment. Over a billion animals have been killed by this, fires over the summer. As many as 25,000 koalas have been killed on Kangaroo Island alone. Thousands were under threat of the loss of habitat, starvation and thirst. Over 10 million hectors the bush forest fires, bushland have decimated. Over 80 of the World Heritage listed bluemound has been burned we seem inn the midst of an extinction crisis by these fires. Ecologists warn some species may never recover. The government has already said that 50 million is not enough. When willol the government front up and fun fund the recovery, e restoration of the protection that our environment desperately needs . When will the government announce the money that we need right now . Will i think the senator to ask the specific question. Mr. President , these are serious issues and the government has acted and acknowledged pretty much the devastation caused by bushfires over the recent summer, is that i slid to tragic loss of life which this chamber acknowledged on tuesday, nor is it isolated to the loss of property or economic assets, but very much does include the loss of habitat and harm to environment and you ecosystems. Thats why the treasurer announced an additional 50 Million Investment to support immediate work to protect wildlife and habitat recovery, and acknowledged this this is n payment for emergency intervention. In terms of further investment about other longterm aspects of recovery the government has been very clear whetherer its in relation to infrastructure rebuild and its support for individuals and its support for its support for tourism sector, support for the environment, investment and Mental Health services, allll of which weve taken decision to do in the wake of these bushfires. Weve indicated in all of those cases that they are initial decisions and that we will then monitor the impacts across in those sectors and respond further when necessary and appropriate. Immediately we have pursued amongst that 50 million funding to provide, care for and rehabilitation of injured wildlife and secure and viable population that threaten species to control feral predators, noxious waste thats a major threat, to scientific map and understand the true impact of these fires and work with landowners around protecting their precious unremitting unburned areas allowing them to support our native plants andre animals to o recover. An extensive engagement in the conservation sector a supplementary question. Thank you, mr. President. Vertical habitats of native wildlife have been destroyed as prepas outline but it may never recover. The government commitment to a moratorium on land colluding to protect the only habitat our wildlife and a precious koalas havee left . Thanks, mr. President , and the senator seeks in that request a sweeping policy decision, asking that it be made verbally on the run. The government has in place at a national levelt environmental laws that ensure the when it comes to land colluding decision or other decisions, the federal government has as i say the five matters of national environmentall importance. Those matters take into consideration environment for habitat for endangered and threatenedci species if those matters take into consideration scientific advice, it is not the governments holsey for us to take over the responsibilities of states and territories when it comes to Land Management actresses over all. The states and territories have clear responsibilities they are. Bushfires have brought into sharp focus the National Debate on Climate Change including the extent to which hot weather and dry conditions contributed to the catastrophic fires. My question is to the Prime Minister. Australia is an record drought, catastrophic megafires have burned our country. Our Capital Cities have ranked amongst the worlds most polluted, and now were facing a flood disaster. Do you now extent that we are facing except we are facing a coal fueled Climate Emergency . Thank you, mr. Speaker. As i advise of the house week, the commission that the government will be moving on once i receive feedback from the states and the territories on the terms of reference for the world commission, and at that time i was in for for a copy ot to the opposition before announcing what we intend to do with that rural commission. Starts from the premise that we deal with longer, harder, drier summers, and we have always, and ive always acknowledged the link between the Climate Change and these broader whether climatic events. That is not been in dispute by our government, and is not in dispute by our government. Those opposite, they asked, they laugh and a giggle and the smirk but that is because, mr. Speaker, they are seeking, their seeking to put forward a false conflict in this place. Mr. Speaker, our government is taking action to reduce emissions, and they have followed by 12. 8 . Our government has put in place policies that have led to one of the highest levels of Renewable Investment that this country has ever seen. Mr. Speaker, they can deny the facts if they likeen but they ae the facts. Also sent in response to this dreadful lack some of that we have been experiencing that taking action on Climate Change isnt just about taking action on emissions. Its about taking action on climate resilience. Its about taking action on climate adaptation. About taking action on Hazard Reduction which is a form of climate resilience. It is about building dams like, mr. Speaker, the billions of dollars were investing in those projectsse to the National Water grid. Building dams is Climate Action now. Hazard reduction is Climate Action no. I noticed the leader of the greens doesnt agree with that. Hes entitled not to agree with that but the site suggests that it is. Our government will act on that. He may want to select and choose those you want to listen to to make Climate Change about being anticapitalism but thats not what w we think it is. We think capitalism and technology isis the way you ense a Brighter Future for this world and for this country. Has the Prime Minister concluded his answer . The lead of the greens on a point of order. A short question was about does he accept Climate Emergency. I would point out again the leaders of the green members of my right to point it many times the question also had ao long preamble, and when there is are long preamble it leaves it open to the responder to do with that part of the question. The Prime Minister is in order. Let me be very clear. Our government will meet and beat our kyoto targets on emissions reduction. Our kyoto targets. And we will meet and beat our paris targets, mr. Speaker. We will go 411 million the leader of thehe opposition cant even formit a policy of what the emissions target should be for 2030. And, mr. Speaker, we will do that without putting attacks a tax on people and will do that without wiping out the jobs particularly of those in regional australia for whom they depend on that for their livelihood. While bushfires dominate the headlines, the increasing number of coronavirus cases adopted calls are Stricter Border control and eventually led to a travel ban on noncitizens coming back from china are biting in australia. Senator patrick. Thank you, mr. President. My question is for the minister representing minister of health and concerns by a secret measures directed against the 2019 coronavirus which has now claimed over 1000 lives. Can the minister advise how many people arriving in australia from china since the first of february have been the subject of Fire Security screening and advised to implement some isolation at home . How has theho government been ae to confirm incoming travelers are following so i false some isolation protocols and or chinas probably under china under any legal obligation to comply with self isolation . Thank you, mr. President , and i think senator patrick for the question and for some time now in relation to the details that ive been able to get, have been provided to you. In terms of the latest data as of midday today, approximately 43,723 confirmed cases and 1013 deaths have been reported globally. Of the 1013 confirmed deaths, 1011 have been from Mainland China. Of thech confirmed cases reportd globally, the mortality rate is approximately 2 . The morrison government is doing everything in our power to protect australians from ongoing coronavirus outbreak. With elevated border measures including a direction to shipping interest in a stripper foreign nationals have remained in england china will not be allowed to enter australia. As result as a result the overaf arrivals since the fifth of february Mainland China is approximately 28,500. I advise this represents a very substantial decrease in numbers arriving from Mainland China. I also advise this has not result in any significant increase indicating the restrictions are proving effective. E all arrivals undertakeer appropriate screening and are provided with information on the virus, and what to do if symptoms presented. These measures are effective and since the first of february, 145 chinese to austria fletcher council. 30 arrivingd passengers had ther visas canceled. Of these, 19 visas have been reissued resulting and 11 visa cancellation. 234ng passengers were refused permission to board their flight to australia. 84 have been refuse permission to board their departing vessel and i will a supplementary question. Thank you. How many biosecurity control orders have been opposedec in relationn to confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus and australia . And if so, how many . And what a general circumstances would the government consider imposition of human biosecurity control to be appropriate . Thank you, mr. President. Im advise on the 21st of january human coronavirus pandemic potential was listed. As they listed human disease under the biosecurity act of 2013. All states and territories have powers to issue orders and the Public Health legislationon that include provisionud for detainig persons and enforcement of those orders in relation to notify conditions. Authorize Public Health offices may issue direction to an individual, but generally chief Health Officers must authorize orders for detention. All states and territories have Emergency Powers which provides extensive authorities to control a Public Health emergency, including the power to detain individuals. In such cases emergency direction must be authorized by the officer in some cases the minister. However, once emergency offices been delegated powers and the agency to detain individuals. The commonwealth can issue directions by security emergency biosecurity act. In International Affairs the defense minister was asked about work being doneal by hms conducting freedom of navigation exercises in the strait of hormuz. Thank you, mr. President. This is not t my first speech. I i question for the minister fr Defense Center rentals. Canonist update us on how the Defense Force of what with partners to the Maritime Security in the middle east . Minister for defense. Order. Thank you very much, mr. Think theand i senator for his first question. On the 13th of january the crew of one or personnel were sent. Im very happy to report to the senate that there already doing our nation proud. The longest and commitment to Maritime Security and stability in the middle east. This is not a new mission. Hms in fact,t, the 68th were austrian naval deployment to the regiont since 1990. They commence operation on 31stra of january and is already conducted a a transit of the strait of hormuz with United Kingdom royal navy, hms defender. But throughout her diploma she will be dual assigned pics is also supporting the combined Maritime Forces which is a 33 Nation Partnership which is targeting terrorism, piracy, drug smuggling and in the east region and also on the northeast coast of africa. Shes also supporting as i said the international Maritime Security construct a Broad International interest designed to protect freedom of navigation and support the safe passage of commercial shipping and maritime trade in the region. Austral joins the in mid2019 from a series of security and following a series of security incidents shipping in the strait of hormuz. And on the imf see hms hms hormuz is working to secure a trade and energy flows throughout the middle east region by ensuring the safe passage of commercial and also civilian vessels. When operating in support of, will correlate with the Call Committee european let Maritime Surveillance mission in the strait of hormuz. Thank you, mr. President. Tenderness or provide an update on australias support that the combined Maritime Forcessu helpo characters in a narcotics in the middle east . Thank you much mr. President. I think the center for his question. What supporting the combinede Maritime Forces we will assist with interdiction of illegal activities that fund terrorism. This includes the movement of personnel, weapons orr income generating and also since 2014 the Royal Australian navy has seen an excess of 9. 6 tons of heroin, 58 tons of of hashish, 15 kilograms of methamphetamines and also 35 kilos of amphetamines with an estimate combine street value in excess of 6. 2 billion. Approximately 2200 illegal weapons with nearly 500,000 rounds of ammunition and more than 12 tons ofim precursor chemicals required to manufacture explosives. Through these efforts australia has helped crucial weapons and also revenue. Can the minister explain how australias contribution to the international Maritime Security construct supports australias economic and security interest . Thank you,at mr. President. Maintaining vital trade and flow 13 chokepoint like the strait of hormuz is crucial to the Global Trading system, and also the International Economy and also australias prosperity. About 40 fuel used in australia transits through the straits of her news is either refined here ore overseas. This seeksks to provide navigatn through the shipping lanes which reaches directlyfi into the indopacific region and well wie on. Under the imf see we will work with International Partners to monitor and deter destabilizing activities which could disrupt trade and also vitalo energy flows. She will support safe passage ol commercial and shipping in the region. An annual report into the welfare of indigenous australians is released with damning findings about progress average australias make in the same target of health,gr educatn and deployment as the rest of the country. Of the seven objectives of the program, just two have been met. The member. Thank you, mr. Speaker. My question is for the minister of indigenous australians. Will he informed the house how the more thinks of is working in Genuine Partnership with indigenous australians and state and territories to progress closing the gap . Thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to thank the member for your continued and ongoing support and interest in these areas. The peak organizations came to the Prime Minister and met with him about the way in which we were doing business as australian government. And asked if it was possible for Aboriginal People to set the table to shape the direction of the gap into the future. Prime minister undertook the process, met with, agreed it would be a tripartite approach to developing the targets. But the coalition of peaks would work very closely with the Aboriginal Community and the state and territory governmentsw and with others. They had their first meeting when the senator was the minister responsible at the time. I had the privilege of sitting at the table at the first joint Council Meeting and in that meeting what we did is we took forward what was agreed to about the way t in which we would shae the future that wouldur leave a legacy of indigenous involvement in decisionmaking. The other element to that was ministers from each state and territory would sit there and be part of those discussions. It was historic in the sense that both two indigenous australians call jared cochairing the council. Unprecedented. What we did recently as the Prime Minister invited them into the cabinetet room. And we talked about what was evolving of their consultation onf the targets come to broad application across the nation and i will come back to us with the final step but theyre working with my agency the National Indigenous Australian Agency with professor ian anderson. Edison, sorry. What they are doing is theyre having genuine discussions about how we shaper the future. And in doing that i reflected on other elements of the work were doing about the agency now to always engage with our people on all initiatives that we do. They are not to tell communities what they need. That is to identify challenge, work on solutions. I also want to ask all of us in this chamber to do the same. To engage within our electorates, to listen to the voices of people athe the local level. Some of us do this well. Some of us, tippins on time. What if we did this consistently and would bring into the feedback for the Aboriginal Community, it will be safe will have an outcome that is an exemplar to the future, and we can collectively take credit for the way in which weve engaged in a real way. Thank you. Finally, the green minor party o attacked the government over its response to student activists toli skip class to attend Climate Change protest. The government says they are better off in school. My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister. Your government has relentlessly attacked students striking for Climate Action. The Prime Minister said kids and should go to school. The deputy Prime Minister denounced anything that would disrupt school, even you, minister, said during the school time, kids should bed in school. But because order on my right. Because of an action on the Climate Crisis have made natural disasters more frequent andfr intense, the bushfires disrupted educationen of tens of thousands of students this summer. On just one day in november my home state of New South Wales saw more thane 600 schools shut down. Will youwi acknowledge your criminal and actually Climate Emergency is thehe real disruptn to students . Thank you very much, mr. President , and i think the senator for that question. Let me confirm that the government andrn every Single Member National Senator is firmly of the view that children should attend school during school time. That has been our view. It remains our view. Our view in the future. Let me also say that our government is absolutely committed to effective action on Climate Change. What we are not proposing to do is to harm australian families, to our young people in australia and the future prospect by forcing them to accept sacrifices which will make the Global Environment worsema off. They are shifting their jobs and Economic Activity from australia to other parts of the world by imposing burdens that will lead to higher pollution, pollution levels and other parts of the world. Its not the best interest of the us till your people and not in the best interest of schoolchildren of australia to relytnd on us to have opportunis in the future. So wel will continue to do the right thing by pursuing a policy agenda that is environmentally effective and economically responsible. We know that is not your view. We know you are the more extreme of you where you want you are quite happy to on the future of opportunities of a western families in order to make yourself feel better domestically with the emissions will be hired as a result of your a action. That is not something we will ever get. That if her question time rep. Thank you for your company. Im annelise nielsen. Heres a look at our live coverage tuesday. The South Carolina primary is saturday. Join us to the candidates reaction for the results. Live coverage saturday evening on on cspan, on demand at cspan. Org or listen live on the free cspan radio app. Next,